Car-coupling



(No Model 7 A r T. E. ROUSSEAU, H. B. GOODALE 8: M. COTE.

GAR G'O'QPLING.

No. 336,950. PatentedMar'. 2. 1886;

F 0 G K6- ifimlllllll \"u 1H Q llNrTEn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

FRANQOIS ELZIAB ROUSSEAU AND HENRY BUELL GOODALE, or AU SABLE, ANDMIsAnL corn, or OSCODA, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,950, dated March 2,1886.

Application filed April 27, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANcoIs ELZIAR ROUSSEAU and HENRY BUELL GoonA LE,both residing at Au Sable, losco county, Michigan, and MIsAiiL COTE,residing at Oscoda, Iosco county, Michigan, citizens ofthe UnitedStat-es, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; andwe do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

The object and nature of our invention are such that the same willcouple automatically when two cars to which they are attached,havingacommonlink in the draw-head of either, are driven together, and whichmay be ancoupled from either or both sides or from the top of the car,and which may also be set by means of a crank so as not to couple whenso desired, thus entirely removing the prime cause of danger to life andlimb attendant upon the operation of coupling and uncoupling cars in theordinary manner.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction, combination, andarrangement of the several parts, as is more fully describedhereinafter.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of our carcoupling with the crankremoved. Fig. 2 is a side view of our car-coupling, showing themechanical construction and workings of the same when coupling. Fig. 3isatop view of our car-coupling when coupled. Fig. 4 is a reverse viewof the cap or plate 0, and showing its lower portion, 0, and the grooveor opening D therein.

Like letters refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A, in the annexed drawings, represents our draw-head,having aballoon-shaped chamber, B, which permits of the free action of theinsorted end of the link, either upward, downward, or sidewise,according to the position or elevation of the draw-heads on the carsconnected, and also having a sufficient opening from the top downwardthrough for the reception of the lower portion of cap 0, as 0, and thepin H,pendent therefrom. The shoulders thus formed by this opening, andwhich Serial No. 163,6 '2. (No model.)

are designated by b and b, are used as bearingpoints for the pin H whenin actual use after coupling.

The cap 0 is aplate, which forms a complete covering for the mainportion of the draw-head A,thereby protecting the mechanical workings ofour car-coupling from storms of snow and sleet. On the under side ofsaid cap is a projection or lower portion, 0, which is secured at itsrear end to the draw-head A by means of the bolt F. On this bolt as apivot the front portion of said cap may be readily raised in theoperation of coupling and uncoupling. The rear end of said cap is soformed that the cap will not pass up and back ward only sufticientl yresponding hole in the draw-head A, by which operation the said couplingis securely fastened in position so as not to couple, which is oftenvery desirable in shunting cars about the yard. By sliding the crank ina reverse manner the said pin L is withdrawn from the draw-head A, andthe said cap falls back into proper position to couple. Said crank Jisan ordinary crank passing through the cap 0 at G, and extending backwardalong either side ofthe drawhead A until nearly even with the platformof 5 the car to which the draw-head is attached, then outward untilnearly even with either side of the car, and then'turningat each end andforming a handle. WVhen the cap 0 is in position for coupling,its lowerportion, 0, projectsinto 9 the opening in the top of the draw-head Asufficiently so that after a link is driven into the said draw-head theinserted end will come in contact with the said lower portion of cap 0from above, and the link will be held horizontally and in properposition to enteran opposite draw-head. On the top of said cap is aneyebolt, e, to which a wire rope or chain may be attached for thepurpose of uncoupling from the top of the car.

In the front end of-Ioo the lower portion of cap 0 is an opening orgroove, D, in and from which a slightlycurvcd pin, H, is suspended bymeans of the bolt K, so that whenever the said capis raised the pin H isdrawn upward perpendicularly, and when the said cap falls back toitsposition for coupling the said pin H enters the draw-- headperpendicularly. At the upper end of said pin H is an oblong holeorslot, I, through which bolt K passes in suspending thesaid pin fromthe cap 0. When in position for coupling, the said pin so suspendedhangs free to move at the slightest touch. On the entry of a link intothe draw-head A said link will force the said pin H slightlybackwarthwhcn the lower portion of the same comesin contact with thelower portion of the cap 0. Then, owing to the peculiar shape of thecapOat the place of contact, the pin H changes its movement and shoves orslides upward on bolt K,by means of the said slot I, until abouttwo-thirds of the pin H hasentered the opening orgroove D in the cap 0.Then,to allow said link to pass through under the remaining portion ofpin H, the cap (3 readily rises. W hen the inserted end of the link hasthus passed the pin H, the said pin drops back into its originalperpendicular position, and the cap 0 falls back into its position onthe draw-head A simultaneous1y,and the coupling is made. Thecombination, conjunction, and perfect arrangement of these severalmotions of the said pin H and cap 0 in the operation ofcou pling andunconpling allows of the use of as short a link with our coupling as maybe used with a common draw-head and straight pin, and also forms asimple, complete, and perfect automatic coupling. When the link is drawnagainst the pin H when in use after coupling, the said slot I allows thesaid pin H to bear directly against the said shoulders b and b in thedraw-head A, thereby entirely relieving the bolt K and cap 0 from anyand all stress and strain while in use.

M represents a common link.

The draw-head A is secured to the car in a manner similar to an ordinarydrawhead.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a car-coupling, thedraw-head provided with openings and slots, as described, in combinationwith the hinged cap having a lower,

downward extension, a, slotted pin H, and operating crank J, all theparts being constructed and arranged for joint operation substantiallyas specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we afiix oursignatures hereto properly witnessed.

FRANQOIS ELZIAR- ROUSSEAU. HENRY BUELL GOODALE. MisAEt corn. In presenceof-- HENRY G. ROTHWELL, W. M. FEATHERLY.

